Artist Dan Bergeron created the portrait series, dubbed ‘Faces of Regent Park’, installing them within another park across from Daniels’ Spectrum. The large laminate glass pieces feature mixed-media portraits of a dozen Regent Park residents in vibrant colours, highlighting the community’s diversity.
Tag Archives: Canada
UNEXPECTED NEWS WHERE ALEXANDER STREET COMES CLOSE TO YONGE IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO
Who would have thought? Toronto’s venerable ‘queer’ theatre and company. <Photo above – from The Toronto Star>. Buddies in Bad Times is in need of a new Board of Directors. The previous Board ended up in a burst of departures – directors and employees nearly all. 
The company is known for its achievements. Among them Toronto’s Luminato Festival, The Edinburgh International Festival and The Festival Cervantino in Mexico, as well as a regular series of productions for the locals. However Buddies has been without an artistic director since September, 2020. Both The Globe and Mail & The Toronto Star, on Saturday, January 29, 2022, published in-depth stories about this “state-of-affairs”.
THEY’RE AT IT. CONCORD SKY IS GEARING UP FOR THE FUTURE – WHERE YONGE MEETS GERRARD ST. E.
Here comes redevelopment of several small storefronts, south of Gerrard on Yonge Street, by Concord Adex, with plans calling for an eighty-four-storey tower featuring a mix of retail, office and residential space. 
Concord Sky at 391 Yonge St. is being designed by New York’s Kohn Pedersen Fox with architects Alliance of Toronto. Set for one of Canada’s tallest skyscrapers and designed by world-renowned KPF architects, Concord Sky provides unmatched views of the Toronto skyline and proximity to all the city has to offer.
“We put our name on Concord Sky and intend to be exceptional stewards of this property for future generations..” said Terry Hui, Concord Adex / Concord Pacific President and CEO (CNW Group/Concord Pacific. Concord Sky’s prime downtown location at 391 Yonge will offer convenience as far as the eye can see when it’s completed in 2026.
‘The Tely’, a Toronto-based newspaper was one of Canada’s 1st. to introduce Sat. & Sun. editions.
It was the voice of the working-class, and of ‘Conservative Protestant Orange Toronto’ in 1881, and attracted the largest circulation daily in the city, but lost that position in 1932 to The Toronto Star and never regained it. For a while The Evening Telegram was located on Bay Street near King St. , but later moved on to Front Street. Some notable staff members – Andy Donato (cartoonist); Clyde Gilmour (CBC Radio broadcaster); Scott Young (sports reporter, father of Neil Young); Dale Goldhawk (later at CBC, CTV and Rogers); Ben Wicks (cartoonist), and so on. The Toronto Telegram folded on Saturday, Oct. 30, 1971, and almost 400,000 copies were printed — twice the regular print run. Long lines of people waited to buy the last-ever copy of the paper. <Information – CBC & Wikipedia>
TWO FINE PHOTOS BELOW FOR SOTHEBY’S CANADA AND SALES REPRESENTATIVE, KIMBERLEY EXEARD.
PHOTO ABOVE – This one is a classic. Santa and his helpers are busy everywhere these days – on Trans Canada Airlines for instance. This T.C. plane is about to leave with Santa on board, flying from Toronto to Winnipeg, the first consigned airmail delivery on that route, which took place in 1939. – kimberleyezeard.com. 
PHOTO ABOVE – In the good old days, December, 1944, a Milk Man made deliveries in heavy snow, making use of a dog sled for plowing through The Toronto Islands. This photo arrived in my letter box yesterday afternoon, so it’s something new. A beautiful picture – and a pleasant surprise.
I’VE PASSED THIS GALLERY FOR YEARS & NEVER WENT IN. ‘PARLIAMENT STREET NEWS’ WOKE ME UP.
Not-for-profit Gallery Arcturus, a hidden public art museum on Gerrard St. East near Church St. It’s a surprise once you climb the stairs and go in for a look. Those who’ve never been inside feel immediate surprise – especially the locals. On the walls and about four floors there’s painting, collage, drawing, sculpture – and a great variety of other media. The gallery is a member of the Ontario Association of Art Galleries and the Ontario Museum Association. It pays to read community newspapers such as PSN, Parliament Street News, & it’s well worth keeping your eyes open. <Photo-Wikipedia>
TORONTO SAYS IT WILL NOT ALLOW HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS TO REMAIN IN PUBLIC PARKS
The reasons: concerns of public accessibility, legality and safety. “The shelter system is unsafe, demeaning and overcrowded” according to the Shelter and Housing Justice Network. People cannot be forced to move to indoor shelters, so the City issues a notice of trespassing to those living in homeless encampments, and offers help from city services, including referrals to indoor shelters. Toronto plans to spend about $663-million on homelessness and Housing First services this year, and has opened more than 25 physical distancing shelters to house those coming from encampments. < From The Bridge News, November 2021, by Megan Camlasaran,>
A FUN EXPERIENCE OF BIG CITIES IS APPROACHING ONE VIA AIR AT NIGHT – TORONTO FOR INSTANCE.
Often times I’ve had quite a tour of Canada’s largest city as the jet first passes over small towns and villages, then the vast city of Mississauga, and finally the outskirts of Toronto. Often the pilot will travel East along Ontario’s Capital, then make a Left turn and head back West again towards Pearson International Airport. 
Brakes are applied as the jet thunders along the runway and proceeds to the Airport Apron and the Parking Stands. Then check-ins and Big T.O. (our Toronto) awaits.
SEEING THINGS, OR IS THIS A DEVILISH FACE? FOUND IT IN A LANE WAY SOUTH OF RYERSON UNIVERSITY
The above photograph was taken by ROSS WINTER. One of our friends said it has a “spooky look” Yes, it does make an impression.
THEY MAY NOT ALL BE OPEN YET, BUT HERE’S A LIST OF SOME THEATRES & CONCERT HALLS IN TORONTO
LARGE THEATRES
*Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley Street, http://www.canadianstage.com
*Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front Street East, http://www.canadianstage.com
*CAA (formerly Panasonic) Theatre, 651 Yonge St., http://www.mirvish.com
*Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge Street, http://www.ticketmaster.ca
*Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W., http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/venues/fleckdancetheatre/
*Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (Opera House), 145 Queen St. W., http://www.coc.ca
*Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W., http://www.mirvish.com
*Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. W., http://www.mirvish.com
*Streetcar Crow’s Theatre, 345 Carlaw Av., http://www.crowstheatre.com
*St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E., http://www.stlc.com
*Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St., http://www.tocentre.com
*Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge Street, http://www.ticketmaster.ca
MORE THEATRES
*Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley Street, http://www.alumnaetheatre.com
*Bad Dog Comedy Theatre, 875 Bloor Street West, http://www.baddogtheatre.com
*Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St., http://www.buddiesinbadtimes.com
*Cahoots Theatre Company, staging diversity, 388 Queen St. E., http://www.cahoots.ca
*Coal Mine Theatre, 1454 Danforth Av., http://www.coalminetheatre.com
*Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street, http://www.factorytheatre.ca
*Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto, http://harthouse.ca/hart-house-theatre/
*MacMillan Theatre, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, http://www.music.utoronto.ca
*National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen Street West, https://national.ballet.ca
*Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton, Ontario, http://www.brampton.ca/sites/rose-theatre/en/Pages/Welcome.aspx
*Second City, sketch comedy theatre that’s launched many careers, 51 Mercer Street, http://www.secondcity.com
*Storefront Theatre, 955 Bloor Street West, pushes creative boundaries, an original, http://www.thestorefronttheatre.com
*Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave., http://www.tarragontheatre.com
*Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W., http://www.theatrecentre.org
*Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Avenue, http://www.passemuraille.on.ca
*Toronto Dance Theatre, 80 Winchester St., Cabbagetown, http://www.tdt.org
*Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club, 224 Richmond St. West, https://www.yukyuks.com/toronto
CONCERT HALLS
*Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Av., http://www.thedanforth.com
*George Weston Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge Street, http://www.tocentre.com/theatres/george-weston-recital-hall
*Glenn Gould Studio, CBC Broadcasting Centre, 250 Front St. W., http://www.cbc.ca/glenngould
*Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com
*Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., http://www.hughsroom.com
*Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor Street West, http://www.rcmusic.com
*Massey Hall, 178 Victoria Street, just renovated, http://www.masseyhall.com
*Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street, http://www.roythomson.com
*Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W., http://www.trinitystpauls.ca
Toronto Savvy 